“DIGGER” AS JUDGE.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 February 1919, Page 6

“DIGGER” AS JUDGE.

One of the two new judges just appointed to the District Bench of New South Wales will certainly be regarded with high approval" by all except that curious section of Ihft Australian workers who describe the Australian soldiers as “murderers and mongrels, ’ ’ Dr. E. ■ M. B’rissendon, the now judge, was a prominent member of the Sydney Bar when he enlisted as a private at the iage of 54 or 55, and in 19115 became a sergeant. On arrival in England he was made legal adviser, to one of the Australian Divisions, Before that apparently he did his share of soldiering at the front, for a member of the staff of the Sydney Morning Herald, writing home in 3917, mentioned having met him one wet, cold night in Franco asking his Avay. “He had walked four miles with full kit, weighing .anything up to Solb., but he was complaining. How is this for a man of 5(3? I trudged the rest of the distance with him. and while he whistled and sang about the joys of soldiering, men 30 years his junior grumbled about things in general. He looks as hard as nails. Until recently lie was doing strenuous work in the lines, but is now attached to the divisional headquarters for special duty. No doubt his legal ability will secure many a man s fair, run before the war closes down. When I mot the doctor he had not had'his clothes off four days. I never saw a man appreciate a hot bath so much as he did.” Any “digger” who gets into trouble in future would probably, if ho had his choice, express a strong preference for being tried by Judge Brisscndcn.